Rotary engine



Jan. 12 1926.

I. L. QWENS ROTARY ENGINE Filed April 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 after-pug Jan. 12 1926.

1,569,525 I. L; OWENS ROTARYYENGINE Filed April 26,- 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan; 12, 1926.

PATENT oFFicE.

IFAN I. OWENS, OF WYTHEVILLE, VIRGINIA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed April 26, 1922. Serial- R0. 556,807.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVAN L. OWENS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Wytheville, in the county of Wythe and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal combustion en ines of the rotary type and is especially esigned for use in connection with automobiles and aeroplanes, but may be utilized for any other suitable purposes.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong, durable, economical, and efficient engine, that shall be lighter and more compact in construction and specially adapted for the use intended.

Further objects of the invention are to so construct my improved engine that the use of valves in connection therewith is entirely eliminated, and all lateral and rotary movement of the pistons and piston rods is practically obviated.

The foregoing and such other objects as may appear from the ensuing description are accomplished by the novel features of construction, arrangement, location and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that' slight changes in the precise form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 7

In the accompanying drawings forming ahpart of this specification it will be seen t at V Figure 1 is a longitudinal secton of the engine embodying my inventon, showing the supporting frame at each end thereof partly in section and partly in side elevation.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the outer cylinder head to which is united a group of cylinders.

Fi re 3 is an end elevation looking in the motion of the arrow 1, Figure 1.

Figure .4 is an end elevation looking in the motion of the arrow 2, Figure 1,

relation to each cylinder,

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken in thei p ane of the dotted lines 55, Figure 1, an

Figure 6 is a detail plan of the cam cylinder and stationary slide-ways, showing'the said slide-ways broken away near each end thereof.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated, and which shows a preferred construction, the numeral 3 indicates an outer metal frame formed with intermediate bearmg members 4 adapted to support arevoluble drive shaft 5. It will be perceived that this engine is of a multi-cylinder type consisting of twelve cylinders arra ed in op".- posed groups of six cylinders, an is an engine working on the four stroke cycle in which the four strokes are performed during one com lete revolution of which sfiaft is suitably and fixedl secured the cylinder heads carrying all 0 the said cylinders, as hereinafter described.

Secured to the outer end of each on of cylinders 6 is an annular metal ea frame 7 which is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the drive shaft 5, said head-frame having an openingS formed therethrough at the outer end of each cylinder forthe entrance of the explosive mixture, and suitably and fixedly secured to the inner end of each group of cylinders is a metallic disk memthe drive shaft toher 9, which is also fixedly secured to the 4 and 15, each of which is preferably provided with an upturned extension 16 adapted to catch and retain the lubricant used in the proper lubrication of the parts.

Fixedly secured to the frame 3 within said frame is a hollow cam drum or cylinder 17, provided with a sinuous cam slot 18 formed through its cylindrical wall, a piston rod 11 is arranged in reciprocatmg each pen of piston rods being longitudinally alined with the opposed cylinders 6, the outer end of each piston rod carrying a piston 12 slidably disposed within one cylinder, while the inner end of each alined rods is rigidly secured by suitable bolts 22 and securing nuts 23 to H-shaped slide blocks 2i, having rollers 25 removably mounted thereon by suitable pins 26, each of said rollers being adapted to respectively enter into and ride in the cam slot 18 of said fixed cam drum or cylinder 17 Disposed between the disk members 9 and rigidly secured thereto are stationary guide members 27 adapted to provide longitudinal slide'ways 28 for said respective slideblocks 24, each guide member 27 being provided with an extension 29 fitted into a recess formed in the said slide blocks, thereby serving to prevent any lateral or rotary movement of the slide blocks and the piston rods secured thereto, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

Surrounding each opening 8, formed through each of the head-frames 7 and rigidly secured to said head-frame in any suitable or ring 30 formed in a manner similar to the well known piston rings for the purpose hereinafter described.

Mounted securely to the frame at the outer side of each head frame 7, by suitable bolts 31, is a metallic disk 32 adapted to rest in light contact with each of the said rings 30, each of said disks having a series of perforations formed therethrough for the passage of the fuel and the exit of the exhaust, and each disk 32 is formed with a large central opening therethrough for the admission of air to prevent the cylinders from being overheated.

Properly associated with each group of cylinders and connected with the outer face of each disk 30 is a fuel intake manifold member 33 and an exhaust manifold member 34 so positioned with respect to the perforations formed through. said disks, that 'hen the fuel mixture is fed through the perforations 35 said mixture will be conveyed by the revolution of its respective cylinder and between the ring 30 and the inner wall of the disk to the usual electric ignition plug 36,-the rotary movement of the cylinders being so accurately timed that when the fuel charge is properly compressed it has reached. the ignition or'spark plug and is fired, the exhaust or spent gases being forced by the outward movement of the piston through the exhaust openings or perforations 37 111130 and through the exhaust manifold, thereby dispensing with the use of the ordinary intake and exhaust valves usually employed in connection with rotary engines.

It will be seen that this engine includes pair of piston desirable manner is a springa rotating drive shaft to which is mouhted two sets of c linders arranged in opposed grou s, all 0 said cylinders rotating with the s aft, with one group ositioned on each side of the fixed cam drive secured to the frame, said cam drive 0 crating a series of slidable blocks to each 0 which is rigidly fitted one end of two piston rods in ahnement, each rod carrying a piston at its outer end, adapted to reci rocate within its respective cylinders, an each slidable block is provided with a centrally arranged removable roller secured thereto by a suit able pin, each roller being fitted within'a cam slot so that it engages the innerwalls of the said cam slot, thus causing each sliding block and its piston rods and pistons to be reciprocated back their res ective cylinders.

By re erence to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 it will be observed that each head frame 7 is provided with a series of fan blades 38, said blades in each head being inclined in o posite directions and adapted to suck col through the central opening in each of the disks 30 and forcing the said air to circulate around the group of cylinders, thus serving :10 prevent the overheating of said cyliners.

The operation of my novel engine may be briefly described as follows Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the two opposed pistons shown at the top are resting in a position about midway between the dead centers and when the cylinders are rotated 45 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, said pistons will be in their respective dead centers, that is, right will be at its outer dead center or will have just finished its exhaust stroke or cycle, and when the said piston has finished its exhaust stroke, it is caused to revolve with its respective cylinder 90 which rotation causes the piston to reach its inner dead center thus completing the intake stroke or cycle, and is then caused by the cam drive to revolve 90 causing it to reach its outer dead center which completes the compression stroke or cycle, when the combustible charge is ignited by the spark plug, the resulting explosion driving said piston toward its inner dead center thereby forcing the cylinders and their respective pistons to rotate 90thus completing the power stroke or cycle and causing said piston to assume its inner which point it is forced to rotate 45 which causes the piston tween its inner and outer centers, and forces the said piston to advance 45 on its exhaust. stroke, thereby completing one complete revolution of t c drive shaft and four cycles. Each iston in the right hand group of cylin ers performs the same functions at the same points in making one comand forth within air the piston at the dead center position, from I to assume aposition be what I claim and desire at each end of the frame,

.within said frame, pistons lete revolution, and the pistons-in the left and grou of cylinders being-adapted to operate and perform the same functions as those in the right hand group,'except that the firing point is 90 from the firing point of the right hand rou I Havingv thus escribed my invention to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A rotary. engine of the character described, comprising a stationary exterior frame extending throughout the len h of the en ine, a hollow cam cylinder xedly secure to said frame within the frame, said cam cylinder being formed with a cam slot forming a sinuous abutment, a solid centrally disposed driving shaft mounted a series of cylinders disposed at each side of said cam cylinder and rotatable with said shaft for said cylinders, a disk secured to the inner end of each series of cylinders, a series of slideways rigidly secured to each disk, a series of H- shaped slide-blocks mounted on said slideways, and a roller removably mounted on each slide-block for slidably operating said pistons.

2. A rotary engine. of the character described, com rising a stationary exterior frame exten 'ng throughout the len h of a at the outer end of each set 0 the en ine, a hollow cam cylinder xedly secure to said frame within the frame, a sinuous abutment formed in said cam cylinder, a solid centrally disposed driving s haft' mounted at each end of-the frame a series of cylinders disposed at each side of the cam cylinder and rotatable with said shaft within the frame, pistons for said cylinders, a disk secured to the inner end of each set of cylinders, an integral ooved disk cylinders, a series of slideways ridigly secured toeach inner disk, a series of H-shaped slide- .blocks mounted 'on said 'slideways, and a roller removably mounted on each slideblock within said abutment for slidably operating the pistons.

3 Arotary engine of the character described, comprlsing a stationary exterior the last named disks, and a lur frame, a cam cylinder within the frame and fixedly secured thereto, a series of revoluble cylinders mounted at each side of the cam cylinder on a solid shaft and rotatable within the frame, a 'head' frame forming the outer end of each set of cylinders provided with openings leading to the cylinders, aperforated disk secured within the frame to each end portion thereof, a fuel intake manifold secured to the outer side of each disk to permit the introduction of fuel through one set of perforations, and an exhaust manifold secured to the outer face of each disk for the discharge of exhaust forming the read end fiportion of each series of cylinders, a' ring xedly secured to the frame adjacent each of said disks, a ring secured to the frame adjacent each head frame, each of said rings being provided with an annular inwardly curved extension for retaining a lubricant.

5. A rotary engine ofthe character described, comprisin a stationary exterior frame, a camcylin er within the frame and centrally fixed thereto, a series of cylinders mounted at each side of the cam cylinder on a solid shaft and rotatable within the frame, a disksecured to the inner end of each series of cylinders, a head frame forming the outer end of each series 'of cylinders, each head frame being formed with a series of annular grooves in its outer face for the rece tion of spring rings therein, a disk within the frame at each end portion thereof and fixedly secured thereto a central opening formed throu h each of ity of fan blades secured to said she and disposed within said central openings.

IVAN L.. OWENS. 

